He envied Maxi, not for the first time. His brother was so free, so unburdened by obligation. Even the duties he should take seriously, Maxi ignored. And their mother loved him for it, indulged him in a way she never did with Franz.

What would it feel like to be so carefree, to win hearts without even trying, even just for a day? Franz couldn’t imagine it.

Even the small freedom of putting off marriage was over for Franz now. He couldn’t delay siring heirs forever, no matter how little he wanted yet another person demanding his time and attention. His mother was right, he knew—right as always about it all—but Franz’s heart was slow to agree.

At a raise of his mother’s eyebrow, a servant unveiled the portrait with a flourish. “Introducing Helene of Bavaria.” Mother was more forceful than usual.

Franz had already made up his mind to stop fighting her, but he couldn’t help but temper his mother’s enthusiasm. “She won’t solve Habsburg’s problems, Mother.”

The people needed real solutions: food, work, thriving businesses, roads, rails. A wedding wouldn’t solve an empty belly, struggling finances, a five-day carriage ride that could be a oneday train journey. The people wouldn’t forget their hunger, their hurt, over a wedding. But now wasn’t the right time to tell Mother his plans. Later, when everything was in place, he’d unveil them. Dazzle her. Make her proud.

“You are wrong, my dear.” Sophie leaned in, her face certain. “The people will trust you again if you give them a bride. And an heir. Believe me. They have waited long enough.”

She made it sound so simple. As if earning back the trust of thousands of people was a mere cough, solved by hot water with honey and ginger. Franz had real plans to earn back the people’s trust, even if he hadn’t shared them with his mother yet.

“Just look at her. Helene is beautiful, and her mother tells me she is also pious.”

He nodded at his mother but didn’t smile. It was clear that she had already started preparations. And it was clear that it was time for him to acquiesce. He would marry. He would do his duty. But he would not pretend he thought it would solve Habsburg’s problems. He would not pretend it would make him—make them—safe. He would forever feel the knife in his neck, hear the crowd cheering at the execution. The unrest was a living thing, a snake readying to strike.

And that wasn’t even considering the danger of a looming war between Russia and France, both leaders now sending gifts and subtle threats in expectation of Franz’s support.